Form Guide:
Perhaps expectations are not that high for Aveley & Newham, but they have been solid performers here in the past.

The band continue to rebuild slowly but surely under the command of Nigel Taken, and although they were some way off the pace at the Grand Shield where they came 13th, they were much better at the Masters were they finished a solid 11th.

If further progress has been made since, then another midfield finish could be the outcome against a high class field.

Player to watch out for: Derek Kane – Always a delight to hear one of the best in business.

Form Guide:Dyke would have hoped to have been able to come here with more than just the one title in the bag for 2008.

Winning at Bradford is always nice of course, but they were well beaten at Preston by Grimethorpe and the British Open saw their luck run out with the balls in the velvet bag.

It was a quality account nonetheless off number 1, but victory was always going to be beyond them on the day, and although 6th place may have been a touch unlucky, they had no real cause for complaint.

Their last win here was four years ago now, so the pressure is mounting for a return to the top of the London pecking order.

Player to watch out for: Paul Duffy – Came of age at the British Open with a fine display of mature soprano cornet playing.

Form Guide: A solid performance at the British Open where they came 13th showed that BTM was certainly not out of their depth against the very highest class of bands. It also showed however just how far they still have to go if they are to make anymore of a mark than a decent midfield finish too.

The appointment of Philip Harper could be the spark to ignite the blue touch paper, as he is guarenteed to bring something a little different to the proceedings.

It could be a question of standing back a safe distance then, as the potential is certainly there for another trip close to the top six if it goes off with the bang they intend.

Player to watch out for: Ian Roberts – A principal cornet of high quality and points winning playing.

Form Guide:An interesting one this for any student of the contesting turf.

At times unlucky, at times disappointing, at times rather inspired – all in the past three races. What Carlton Main will bring to London on their first appearance back at the contest since 1999 is anyone’s guess, but if they are on form then they could well end up in the top six.

The British Open a few weeks ago showed just how good a band they are when they came a well deserved 7th, so if the the piece suits Russell Gray’s musical tastebuds then who knows?

Player to watch out for: Kirsty Abbotts – Great to see such a fine performer back on the biggest stage of all.

Form Guide:The high of Stavanger was replaced by the low of Birmingham for Cory, as despite the usual trademark intricately detailed assault, they were still beaten into 3rd place in defence of their title.

Strange as it may seem, but the Albert Hall does suit the band better, even if they are yet to repeat their Millennium victory, and their record suggests they should once again be there or thereabouts come the announcement of the results.

They are also a band that seems to revel in Kenneth Downie works, so the ingredients for a sixth National title are perhaps already in place?

Player to watch out for: Michelle Ibbotson – Swang song for the highly talented soprano star, who has been an integral part of the bands succes in recent years.

Form Guide:
After having a break after the Masters by not taking part in the English Nationals, hopes were high at Desford for a strong challenge at the British Open.

It wasn’t to be however and although the band ended up unluckily in 14th place, a trademark musical performance was also bedevilled by too many unforced errors – a sign perhaps that they need a bit more intensive preperation time to make a mark at the top two majors.

If they have managed to do that this time around then who knows? A return to the glory years of the late 1980’s may just be beyond them at present, but never under estimate Desford and their ability to surprise.

Player to watch out for: Murray Bothwick – A solo horn performer of the old school – no nonsense class.

Form Guide:An interesting one this. When ever Frans Violet is in front of a band you can be sure that his charges will be on the top of their game and worked to the bone in preperation.

The combination certainly worked well at the Senior Cup earlier in the season where they were decisive winners, whilst they were also good value for their qualification under Robert Childs in Darlington.

This is however a real step up in class, although last year they showed that they were more than capable of making it - just missing out on a top 10 finish off the dead man’s draw of number 2. More of the same could be on the cards.

Player to watch out for: Neil Day – The bands new top man is a top notch performer too.

Form Guide:
Better than their last appearance suggests – much better in fact.

2008 hasn’t been the greatest of contesting years so far for Fairey, but for the most part Lady Luck hasn’t been very evident in her support for the 9 times former winners.

The British Open result of 15th was a case in point, whilst their returns at the Masters and English National were not really a true relfection of their solid performances under Philip Chalk. Could do with a bit of luck then – and it is overdue.

Player to watch out for: Mark Bousie - a superb player who has the ability to lead Fairey right back into the big time.

Form Guide: Will any band head to London as full to the brim with confidence as Fodens we wonder?

At Symphony Hall they were simply outstanding and fully deserved to take the old Gold Trophy back to Sandbach, whilst their record here over the last decade suggests that they have all the ingredients in place to mount yet another serious assault on the title.

That said, the contesting fates have been a touch fickle with Fodens this year too (the Masters for instance), so they won’t be taking anything for granted. If they produce the form of Birmingham though the second double in their history (the first was in 1910) may well be in their sights.

Player to watch out for: Glyn Williams – The euphoium star has was a man inspired at Symphony Hall, and it may well continue here too.

If ever a band can do it then Grimethorpe and Allan Withington surely can. In a sense everything has been building to this point in 2008, and despite the win at Preston and the near misses at Bradford, Stavanger and Birmingham, the very apex of their contest year will take place sometime on Saturday.

Only a very early draw or a catastrophic loss of form can stop them, as in the past two years they have been untouchable here. The romantics in the audience will provide the sentiment, the players and the MD, the talent and the form. It could well become a historic moment.

Player to watch out for: All of them. If they do it, they will deserve every plaudit that comes their way.

Form Guide:
Resurrected from the dead, Kirkintilloch was a band reborn at the British Open.

There, under the most intense pressure to survive the drop, they produced a wonderful performance that not only dragged them from the abyss, but saw them crack into the top six in style.

The combination of an extremely talented Norwegian MD and a vibrant bunch of players is working a treat, and another performance of the Birmingham quality will have them up and around the top six here for sure. They were that good, so don’t miss them.

Player to watch out for: David Prentice – Quality leadership in Birmingham and quality leadership here for sure.

Form Guide:
A band and MD that has the talent to regain the National title – and this time it wouldn’t be as big a surprise as 2005.

When it all clicks Leyland are a high octance mix of musical excitement that can burn off the very best bands in the business, but they can also be prone to self immolation too.

At Birmingham they were on fire and came 4th, but elsewhere this year, such as the English Nationals, they got their fingers singed. Something big is going to happen sooner or later though and it could be all guns blazing on Saturday.

Player to watch out for: Brenden Wheeler – Now a very mature and classy performer of considerable talent.

Form Guide:
A band on the up and making rapid progress after a year that started with many a disappointment. Mount Charles will come here full of confidence and looking for a vast improvement on last years bottom finish.

They will have been revitalised after the way in which they performed at Preston at the English Nationals. There Andrew Duncan’s sensible musical approach work was enhanced by a collective self belief that paid dividends, and they were not by any means fortuitous to end up in 4th place.

It coud be asking a great deal for more of the same, but a return towards the top 10 will show just how far they have come.

Player to watch out for: Jon Small – The soprano player was the catalyst at Preston and he may well be again on Saturday.

Form Guide:The arrival of Jeremy Wise at Redbridge has brought a greater degree of self belief to a band that has always been talented, but has also been a notorious under achiever in the past too.

The highlight so far this season was the performance at the Masters where the band mirrored the elegant baton work of the MD, whilst they produced more artisan qualities at the Grand Shield and the English Nationals.

They have shown glimpses of their real potential here in the past, and although it would be asking a bit much for a breakthrough top six finish, a possible top 10 result is a relalistic prospect.

Player to watch out for: Bob Stradling – The soprano player brings a touch of experience and class to every performance.

Form Guide:
Hopefully Rothwell will use the disappointment of losing their place at the British Open as a means of drawing the very best out of themselves, as they return to the Royal Albert Hall for the third time in their history.

Birmingham was a hard one to swallow though and it will take all of Dave Roberts abilities as a motivator to ensure that it doesn’t have a corrosive effect on their performance here. They will be going all out to make a point for sure, but it needs to be focused.

Given their usual approach has proved to be succesful over the last couple of years, that little extra spice may just be the added ingredient required for a top 10 finish or above. That should put a few smiles on the faces.

Player to watch out for: Paul Argyle – A top quality soprano player and a performer who shines on the major contesting platforms.

Form Guide:
A little bit of a mystery to how well SWT Woodfalls are actually playing, as they have been a little hit and miss this year so far.

The hits certainly came at the Senior Trophy at Blackpool where under the baton of Nicholas Childs they took a step closer to the British Open, and Torquay of course. The misses though were at Yeovil and Butlins – although to be fair both were at the beginning of the year.

With the experienced Melvin White at the helm they will certainly be well prepared, but it is asking a great deal for them to deliver more than a midfield finish.

Player to watch out for: Mark Pye – A cracking soprano cornet is always a bonus for any band, and he is certainly one of those.

Form Guide:
One of the real form bands of 2008, and many people’s dark horse to do well here on the weekend, after a cluch of impressive performances at home and on their travels.

Some of those victories have come in second or third tier contests, but they certainly deserved their runners-up spot at Cambridge and were unlucky not to have qualified for the British Open.

They have come a long way in a short space of time under the talented Ian Porthouse, so does the Royal Albert Hall promise another boost to their ranking. They certainly have a decent record here over the years to suggest they could more than make a mark.

Player to watch out for: Dewi Griffiths – The principal cornet has been the figurehead of the band’s revival of late.

Form Guide:
Nice to see one of the great banding names of the National return once more to the contest after a three year break away – and always nice to see John Berryman return too.

GUS are not quite the band they once were of course, but their rebuilding plans have been based on secure foundations - although they have had a wobbly moment or two this year to show things are not quite complete, just yet.

There is a solidity about their player base that the MD can work with confidence, and if they can just rid themselves of that touch of inconsistency it could signal a return to a possible high finish.

Player to watch out for: Chris Jeans – As good as they come on trombone.

Form Guide:
Whitburn display all the right ingredients for a band to do well at London, but somehow they just haven’t been able to mix them all together well enough to do themselves any favours here of late.

The draw hasn’t helped at times, but they have also not played to form either too.

This year has been a decent one so far with some second and third tier contests wins supplementing the bank balance. It’s the partnership with Steven Mead that is gaining interest though, and after a solid showing at the Open where they came 10th, they should have it about them to push for another single figure finish.

Player to watch out for: Scott Forrest – The young soprano player is making a fine reputation for himself as a high class performer.